FRACTURES OF THE BONES 



327 



bones of that part of the body, and on moving the fractured ends 

 there is a rubbing sound (crepitation) similar to rubljing two hard, 

 rough surfaces against each other. The amount of loss of power in a 

 broken bone depends to a great extent on the amount and s(n-crity of 

 the fracture. This is ver}^ marked in fractures of the extremities; great 

 pain on pressure, especially on the line of the fractured bones. This 

 may also be of especial diagnostic importance in case of cracks or fissures 

 of the bone. In such a case, while the symptoms are all present, the 

 ends of the bones are not displaced. This is generally seen in the longi- 

 tudinal form and in very young animals where the bone pi^'ots on the 



Fig. Wo. — .Skiagraph of fracture of the humerus. 



fractured epiphysis. Crepitation and an abnormal movement are 

 easily recognized by taking hold of the part above and below the frac- 

 ture and moving it in different directions. Both of these symptoms 

 are absent in incomplete fractures and in such fractures where the bones 

 will close together with very little displacement. This is especially seen 

 in longitudinal fractures of the short compact bones. We occasionally 

 find a mild, rubbing loruit or sound produced by dry blood-extravasations 

 or fibrinous coagulations between the surfaces of joints. In cases of 

 fracture where the periosteum has not been torn, we will have a certain 

 amount of swelling in the fractured region, pain on pressure, loss of 

 appetite, and a certain amount of fever. This last symptom, however, 

 is rarely noticed. When there is any uncertainty about the cUagnosis 



